Don’t buy COVID-19 vaccine online – FDA cautions

The Food and Drugs Authority, (FDA), has cautioned the general public to be wary of fraudsters advertising products as COVID-19 vaccines.

The public has been advised not to fall prey to such dubious activities.

The authority, in a statement on Tuesday explained that the alert had become necessary following reports of fake COVID-19 vaccines in South Africa.

“The FDA wishes to caution the general public that online advertising, offering for sale and supply of medicinal products including the COVID-19 vaccines are strictly prohibited. Therefore, the public should not purchase any COVID-19 vaccines online,” the statement indicated.

The FDA also cautioned courier services including shippers and freight forwarders against bringing into Ghana any unauthorised vaccines since such practices will be in contravention of Section 118 of the Public Health Act and FDA’s Guidelines for Emergency Use Authorisation of Medical Products.

“COVID-19 vaccines are to be expressly imported only by and through the Ministry of Health,” the statement warned.

The authority, urged the general public to report any suspicious activities relating to the advertising and offering for sale and supply of COVID-19 vaccines and/or related products.

For the avoidance of doubt, the FDA in the statement stated that “so far, the only COVID-19 vaccine authorised for use in Ghana are SPUTNIK V and COVISHIELD vaccines.”

Furthermore, the importation and deployment of these two vaccines in the country, the authority said are under the control of only the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, respectively.

Below is the statement